The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me * Lucy Robinson

The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me by Lucy Robinson

Sally is an incredible singer but she sings only in her wardrobe where nobody can hear her. She'd rather join a nudist colony than sing in public.

That is until she ventures to New York where a wild and heady summer of love and loss changes her forever. No longer able to hide in the shadows, Sally must return home to London to fulfil a promise she cannot break - to share her voice.

But just as she's about to embark on her new life, a beautiful man turns up on Sally's doorstep bearing a sheepish smile and a mysterious hand-written message.

Sally Howlett has a secret, a secret she has kept since she was a young girl. She loves to sing, and not just any singing. Opera singing, and she's been singing ever since she was seven. Something that her mother and father really don't want to be doing, since a tragic death in their family. 

Since then Sally has been sworn to secrecy by her parents that she will never sing again, though that won't stop her. She just sings in her wardrobe, to no one else in the world apart from her teddy bear Carrot. But when her cousin and best friend Fiona hears her sing, her whole world comes crashing down.  

But whilst she's a wardrobe mistress and working as close to being in opera as she can, she's in a dream come true. Working with her friends Barry and Bae and even her freckle, Fiona. Though when she bumps into the handsome Julian Bell, after he opens the door on her stealing his candle. Her whole world flips upside down and she is on top of the world. 

Julian has a heart of gold and a vice like silk, he also makes Sally feel wonderful about herself. She has found her man! But Fiona starts to take a turn for the worst with alcohol and drugs and is soon off the rails,so Sally doesn't know what to do. She doesn't know who to trust anymore and what to believe, she's spent her whole life being a friend, a sister, cousin and a mother. But now that the tragedy has happened, how can she move on? 

Stepping into the Royal College of Music in London was a big move on for her. How can she sing in front of people when she's only sang in a wardrobe? Nothing could be worse than this, but when she soon finds out that Julian is her singing coach, the same man she fell in love with and soon fell back out of love with him. She wants a big black hole to open up and swallow her whole. She also wants nothing to do with Julian ever again and wants him out of her life.  

But when things slowly start to change is Sally's little bubble of a life, what will she do? Could this be a new act in her life waiting to unfold into something wonderful? Or could it be a disaster on wheels going at 100mph? 

The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me by Lucy Robinson, is the third book to be released by the author and I honestly cannot get enough of her work! I've been waiting for ages for this book to come out and nearly passed out when it did! It's smart, creative, hilarious and just down right laugh out loud. I feel I can always connect with Robinson's books as he writes about real life problems, and the little feelings that every woman gets and feels like that at some point in her life. 

I feel some books don't really put much humour into their books, such and putting things in that would never happen in a million years to someone, such as yourself. But with Lucy Robinson's books, half of the embarrassing things that happen in her books, you can count on has happened to you or someone you know and you can really sympathise with the characters which I think is great! 

I really loved the story line for this book, I thought it was very well written with the right amount of drama, comedy and romance. I loved Sally's character and can totally understand how she feels with not wanting to perform any music, because that's how I feel with playing the drums. I liked Helen's character and think I liked her a bit more than Fiona. I was torn between Julian and Jan as I couldn't make my mind up on who would be better for Sally in the end.  

The story line was really good and had many twists and turns in the plot that I thought we're great. At some point's I did think that the book was a little slow on places, but soon picked it's pace back up! All in all I think this is a great book, and do really enjoy Lucy Robinson's books,  probably a bit too much! She's bringing another one out soon!! I can't wait!! 

I will give this book 9 out of 10 

Midnight * Jacqueline Wilson

Midnight by Jacqueline Wilson

Violet has always been in the shadow of her mesmerising, controlling brother Will -- by turns delightful and terrifying. Now that Will has learnt a shocking secret about his own past, things seem to be getting worse. 

Violet retreats further into her fantasy world built around the fairy characters created by her favourite author, Casper Dream. The arrival of Jasmine, a new girl at school who immediately befriends Violet, seems like it might change Violet’s life for the better and allow her to break free of Will’s spell. But is Jasmine a true friend?


Violet can't seem to understand why her brother Will is always nasty too her, making her join in on scary games, making fun of her fairies and always telling her that she has no friends. She can't understand this because when they we're little, they used to be so close, inseparable. 

Until one Christmas when there Grandma had got fed up of Will being ungrateful, so she blurted out a horrible truth and no one in the family can ever forget. Especially not Will. 
As soon as he's old enough, he's leaving for good and doesn't care what happens when he's gone. 

Though Violet does, and she wishes things could go back to normal, how they used to be when they we're little and how they seemed just like brother and sister, but Will didn't believe that anymore. Worst of all their mother was a coward in Violet's eyes. Never standing up for herself and her dad just walked all over her, and didn't really like Will either. 

But when Violet becomes good friends with the new girl Jasmine, things slowly start to make sense and come into place. Violet wishes she could just live with Jasmine and her cool, trendy father who lets her drink wine and who is in plays. Though Jasmine wishes that she could have a family like Violet's where everyone was still together. 

Then one night, Violet finds something in the attic whilst playing one of Will's spooky games that changes everything for a second time. How can this be? Violet soon finds out that there are more secrets that need to be uncovered, especially if  she wants to get her older brother and best friend back. All she needs to do is make one little wish. 

And there's only one person who can help her there. 

Midnight by Jacqueline Wilson is a great book! I found this whilst digging around in a box filled with old photo's and it's the exact same book that I bought when I was around twelve years old. It felt great to find it and I felt a big sense of happiness when reading it as I have good memories with this book. I remember going to see the play adaptation with my school and friends and because I had loved it so much, I asked my mum to take me to see it again before it finished. And she did, and I loved it. 

I find that Wilson's books have a great depth and meaning too them, one in which you can only relate to either whilst your young or have the memories of those feelings that the characters have, are the same as what you had when you we're growing up. 

Though that said, I do think her audience is based around young girls through the ages of 12-15 who are still finding themselves and what is happening whilst growing up. Boys, womanly things,s family, friendships etc etc. 

I think her books are fantastic and enjoyed reading it the same as I did when I was twelve. To which I am twenty in two months haha. I do recommend giving her books a read, whatever your age, because I am sure we can all relate to one book or another. 

I will give this book 6 out of 10

Peter Pan * J.M. Barrie

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Come away! Come away! The darling children are all tucked up in there beds when Peter Pan bursts into their nursery. Peter and his mischievous fairy Tinkerbell entice Wendy and her brothers to fly away to a magical world called Neverland. There you can do all mystical and magical things, that no one would of every thought you could do.  

The Darling children we're not like most children, they had one bedtime story like any other, and what made it different was that they believed. Wendy was the eldest of all three children, there we're her brothers John and Micheal too. 

After Nana, the big St. Bernard dog had given them their medicine and tucked them all into bed, the children would dream of flying away to one place in the world that all children wish they could go. Neverland. Filled with sparkling fairies, beautiful mermaids in their colourful lagoons and we can't forgot about the dangerous and vicious pirates ever to have walked the earth. 

So when a young boy creeps in through the window one night in a quest to find his lost shadow, Wendy is awoken by the sounds of a distressed boy, crying. Soon she realises that this is Peter Pan from the bedtime stories and she immediately wakes her brothers to show them. 

After sewing Peter's shadow back on seeing as the soap he tried to use didn't work, all three children are swiftly taken to Neverland where there flying through the air by fairy dust, with the help of a stubborn little fairy known as Tinkerbell. Towards the second star on the right and straight on till morning. 

With living in a house underground, a little hutch made out of twigs, leaves, mud and wood. With mermaids swimming all over the blue lagoon, fierce native redskins and the pirates lurking about. Things aren't what they seem to the Darling children and they start to forget who they are, the longer they stay in Neverland. 

Getting rid of the dreaded captain Hook is one thing, his crew another. But when the Darling children, soon start to forget where there real home is, where they actually live and who there real mother and father are, things start to seem weird.  Though they battle on to help beloved Peter towards his great achievement of getting rid of Hook once and for all. 

Peter Pan by J.M Barrie, is a childhood memory for a lot of children and adults alike. Though to compare the book to the actual Walt Disney adaptation and the films to follow, are nothing of the sort. 

I remember watching the film when I was younger and thinking what a magical place it would be to live! To see the mermaids and the pirates and most of all the fairies. I thought the same for the real life adaptation also, but after reading the book. Peter Pan in my mind has become a lot darker than what it appears to be with Disney. 

The films for me don't really fit to the book, though there is a Peter Pan in a TV show called Once Upon a Time. Peter Pan in that is what he is really like in the book, dark. Which after watching the programme I thought "God, they've made that awfully dark to what it really is" But alas! I was mistaken. 

A lot of people don't know that J.M Barrie based this book on someone in his family losing a child. Thus Peter is the lost child to Mrs.Darling who she longs to see again but never will, which is who the Kiss on the corner of her mouth is saved for. 

I think this is such a sad part towards the story as it is just about a mother longing to see her lost child again, and in some ways Peter Pan trying to see his siblings again, yet he doesn't really know it. He is forever trapped being a child who will never grow up, because that is how Mrs. Darling saw peter last, and how she will always see her little boy.

Same as Mr. Darling is actually Captain Hook, who in a way tries to get rid of Peter so they can move on with their lives as they should. Or so how I see it, they have quite a big resemblance. On the other hand, Hook despises Peter because he also in a way doesn't want to grow up himself, and is jealous that Peter doesn't have to and he can remain a boy for eternity. Though with Mr. Darling he See's his other children, and secretly doesn't want them to grow up because he wants them to stay his babies forever, just like Peter will.  

I do like the darker meaning behind Peter Pan, rather than just that he is the boy that will never grow up. Yet at the same time, find it really saddening and heartbreaking.  I liked that it was portrayed in a darker light, though I must admit it did sometimes bore me and I didn't get the same feeling reading it as I did watching the cartoon adaption years ago when I was younger. 

Still, it remains a big part of my life and childhood and some of the sayings in the book are just too beautiful to forget. 

"To die, would be an awfully big adventure" - Peter Pan. 

I will give this book 6 out of 10 

A year on: Kobo e-reader review.

Hey everyone!

I thought I would do a quick review on the Kobo I bought a while back and the purchase, which you can see below: 

Welcome Kobo Mini

Well, I say it's a year on. It will be within a month haha, but I just wanted to do a quick update on how I've gone on with it and would love to know what other people think of them if they have them. So tell me what you think? 

I love  the fact that you can get changeable covers for the Kobo mini, so you can have your own style with :) There are four colours that I know of, which are Teal, Pink, Purple and black. The green cover that is around my kobo is a cheap cover I bought off of ebay and I love it. 

To say that the Kobo Mini is quite slim, having the green book case for it, gives it that little extra thickness. It's a lovely fit and well made, if anyone would like the link please let me know and I shall add it on :) They come in a range of different colours too. 

Reading with Kobo: 

Reading with the Kobo is bliss, I never thought I would actually say that since I was sceptical after buying it let alone before. I still love buying books in paper form and always will, though since having the kobo for a year I have found it much more easy. 

Key Points: 

• I can now read on public transport without getting travel sick, so that's a BIG bonus!
• The charge on the Kobo still lasts up to a month, after a year gone since I bought it
• Kobo has sent me an anniversary 30% off voucher for being with them a year, which is awesome!
• The books are cheaper than in store, which is wonderful but still doesn't beat reading old books. 
• The Kobo was easily worth £30 and I would of happily pay £60 at it's full price (But I'm glad I got it in the sale!) 
• I now want another Kobo.
• You can have up too 1,000 books 
• I can highlight the parts I love in books and it saves it for me to go back to later on
• And last but not least, if you are reading a book but want to read something else for a bit, you can just save the page your on and start a new book. Then go back to your old one! Which is ace!

Downsides: 

• It is a tad slow when turning pages
• There isn't much light on the screen and would be wise to buy a little light to attach to the top of the ereader as it is a little dim in darker light. 

All in all the Kobo is a great devise and I am very happy with the product and their service actually. I still enjoy reading and have possibly enjoyed it a little more as the Kobo has given me more time to read, like on public transport etc which I couldn't do before. 

The Kobo Mini is easily one of the best things I have ever bought and I am thrilled and happy with it. Another thing that is great is that you get Rewards for reading. There's a bunch of different ones from Night Rider, Better In Bed, Not An Open Book and Once Upon a Time. 

They all have different meanings and some of them are for reading so many times at certain times in the day. Or reading so many classic books etc. I think this is a  great way for people to read more, as in a way it's a little game. The more you read the more rewards you get and the more you read the more you enjoy and learn. I think Kobo have been very clever with this feature and think it is a wonderful Idea and I love it! 

I don't think it shows a bad way at all about reading, with reading more and earning badges. I think it's a clever and great way to motivate more people to read, especially younger people of today as most people don't read anymore and I find that quite sad. 

But on a happier note, I highly recommend the Kobo Mini and I think it is a smashing product and has been much help and use to me over this past year.

I will give the Kobo Mini ereader 9 out of 10

Pear Shaped * Stella Newman

Pear Shaped by Stella Newman

Girl meets boy, girl loses boy, girl loses mind. 

Sophie Klein walks into a bar one Friday night and her life changes. 
She meets James Stephens: Charismatic, elusive and with hosiery model ex, who casts a long, thin shadow over their burgeoning relationship. He's clever, funny and shares her greatest pleasure in life - too eat and drink slightly a bit too much and have a little lie down. 

Sophie's instincts tell her that James is too good to be true - and he is. And exploration of food, love and heartbreak. Pear Shaped is in turns, smart, laugh-out-loud funny and above all recognisable to women everywhere. 

When Sophie walks into her local pub with her best friend, she doesn't expect to be hit on by a stuck up man who thinks he has a shot. Which he doesn't, but his best friend James definitely has a shot with her. He's everything Sophie has ever dreamt of in a man and she couldn't be happier when they soon go out together on their first date. 

What do you know! They have so much in common and are totally smitten for each other, Sophie is over the moon that she has finally found a man who treats her right and who really likes, who knows this could possibly be love. But everything is not so perfect in dear Sophie's dream man, not after when he says that she's a bit on the "tubby" size and would look a little better a little slimmer. 

Soon Sophie and Jame's relationship is in full swing, with glamorous sunny holiday's to Italy, sharing a large vast home together, a new top of the range fridge and blender and of course the sex is amazing. But Sophie realises that their relationship is too good to be true and she can't shake the feeling that James is lying, and that he doesn't like her natural body. 

But she still has a fantastic job that she loves, who could not love designing and creating new deserts for the leading food stores Fletchers. Not forgetting working with the most lovely company ever, Appletree. But there's Will, the most lovable and charming man Sophie has ever met, though it simply couldn't work as he's divorced and has an ex wife. 

Will Sophie confront James about them before it's too late? Or will she let things spiral out of control, including her friendships, her dating life and not forgetting her mental health. 

Pear Shaped by Stella Newman, is the first book I have read by this author and I honestly and personally don't know if I want to read anything else she has written, certainly if it is anything like Pear Shaped. 

I really couldn't get on with this book, I think the only thing was okay about it, was that Sophie had quite a witty humour which was good and funny in some places but that's all, and that she got to design new puddings. Though everything else in the book I didn't like, I tried to enjoy it but just couldn't. 

I found Sophie's character in general a bit of a let down and quite a shallow person. She was going out with James who treated her like rubbish, she knew this and she still went out with him. He was horrible to her, yet she still stayed with him! I couldn't stand that part, if he's horrible and you can't trust him why stay with him? 

I personally don't think the ending is very good either, you don't really get to know what happens between Sophie and James and then with Will also. So it's all a bit wishy washy. 

All in all I will give this book 3 out of 10. 

The Mortal Instruments: City Of Ashes * Cassandra Clare

The Mortal Instruments: City Of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Haunted by her past, Clary is dragged deeper into New York city's terrifying underworld of demons and Shadowhunters - But can she control her feelings for a boy who will never be hers? 

Clary just wants her life to go back to normal, before she found out that her best friend Simon, is in love with her. Her hear mother is still in a coma. And that her crush is on Jace, who might just be her brother. 

If things couldn't get any worse, there is a strange woman in town that goes by the name of the Inquisitor, who soon decides to pin Valentines show up, on his son Jace Wayland. Jace isn't trusted anywhere, not even by the parents who adopted him and in the same house as Isabelle and Alec. 

Clary's quite happy at the moment besides wanting her life back to normal, she's got Simon back safe and sound and enjoying watching cheesy films with him and talking about comics. But things soon start to go strange when Simon can't stand to watch Nosferatu and goes pale at the sight of blood. Something is seriously wrong. 

Following Simon's incident, Clary soon finds out that her brother has gone missing and goes on the quest to find him as well as Simon. But New York has gotten darker and scarier, and whilst her father is lurking about around town, no one can be safe. 

Luke soon decides to help them all, Jace, Clary and Simon get to Valentine once and for all. But Valentines army will be much stronger than theirs, and once he has the final missing pieces for his puzzle, nothing will stop him raising the most dangerous demons known to man. 

Though when young kids go missing, including Simon and Jace locked up, things start to take a turn for the worse. Much worse to what any of them thought was possible, they need help but no one will come willingly to their side to fight. But Clary wont give up on her best friend and her brother, no matter what the cost or reason behind it, even if that means killing her own father. 

City Of Ashes by Cassandra Clare, is the second instalment in the fantasy book series, The Mortal Instruments. I think this book is much darker than the first, which is City Of Bones, and I love the fact that this one is much darker and more chilling. 

I thought that Cassandra caught the dark side to this book wonderfully and portrayed the characters great. I felt so much for Simon and Jace as they always seem to get the worse end of the stick. Simon the most, and I can tell you that I was shocked many times throughout this book and nearly shed a tear for Simon as I just love his character. He reminds me of a friend I have haha :) Which is lovely. 

Towards the end of the book my expectations went through the roof for Jace for what he did for Simon and his sister, but I won't tell you what that was! I don't usually like watching the film before the books as I like to imagine what the characters would look like. Though I must admit I personally think the actors that we're chosen for the films we're a great choice and I love being able to see who they are in my mind when I'm reading them. 

I'm really happy that the book is much darker as I feel it reflects on both Clary and Jace's lives and up bringing so far. I liked that Luke was in this book more as well cause I just love his character and how he is with Clary, Simon and Jace. 

However I do think that it did run a bit slow in places and I just wanted it to sometimes get to the point and the good stuff! I also wonder how they are going to make this into a film, as I cannot for the life of me see how they are going to make it! But, we shall soon see when it is due to be released! I hope it lives up to the book. 

(Also, I am terribly sorry on how late this book review is, I finished reading it about a few weeks ago but never got round to it, so I apologise if the review isn't much up to it's potential!)

I will give this book 5 out of 10